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2/3/2010
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Lehi, UT
US
Edited Date/Time
3/22/2013 9:39am
Seriously, though, why do some people just seem to go incredibly fast on everything?
For example my brother and I...he's faster than me at everything we do (BMX, mountain biking, go carts, motocross, off road, motorcycles). And I think all it comes down to is that he can turn off the "fear/caution" part of his brain better than me. He'll pin it, when I'll let off because the "fear" side of my brain won't allow me to twist the grip.
We ride off road all the time together and we wear POV cameras...and then we'll watch the videos side by side...and it happens over and over again....there will be a particular obstacle (rock, turn, tree, blind spot, whatever) and I'll let off, and he'll just keep it pinned and make a ton of time on me.
So why are some people able to do that better/more often than others? Is it a gene? A personality trait?
Is that what separates a guy like Andrew Short from Ryan Villopoto? Both are in great shape, both are incredibly talented, both have great equipment...but, RV just keeps it pinned when AS lets off a little bit?
For example my brother and I...he's faster than me at everything we do (BMX, mountain biking, go carts, motocross, off road, motorcycles). And I think all it comes down to is that he can turn off the "fear/caution" part of his brain better than me. He'll pin it, when I'll let off because the "fear" side of my brain won't allow me to twist the grip.
We ride off road all the time together and we wear POV cameras...and then we'll watch the videos side by side...and it happens over and over again....there will be a particular obstacle (rock, turn, tree, blind spot, whatever) and I'll let off, and he'll just keep it pinned and make a ton of time on me.
So why are some people able to do that better/more often than others? Is it a gene? A personality trait?
Is that what separates a guy like Andrew Short from Ryan Villopoto? Both are in great shape, both are incredibly talented, both have great equipment...but, RV just keeps it pinned when AS lets off a little bit?
I also think great riders have exceptional inner ears/vestibular systems. Personally, I think that ultimately is the difference maker.
Put those two together and you have someone who can go for it and stay on the bike.
Hey Michael, i would like to read that, do you know if it has an archive online?
Jeff Stanton said something in an interview with Steve Matthes that I've always believed: "You can't teach aggression".
He was talking about Barcia and taming the aggression a bit vs trying to teach it.
I figured this out with my brother as well... Growing up, he always had that talent. He was better at everything than most kids the first time he'd try it. I was the little brother with a talent defficiency. I learned to work hard and most importantly I learned aggression. After a while I would beat my brother at just about anything. My aggression keeps me racing and helps me win. My brother quit riding and doing all that sort of stuff. It was easy for him, so he lost interest.
Sometimes you get a guy who has above average talent and has that aggressive side, the type who never gives in and works hard. That's your Carmichael, Hannah, Villopoto, etc. They don't have the talent of a Windham, Lechein, Bradshaw, etc but they have something more valuable for a racer.
The Shop
no idea why.
had a ginger in my age group BMX racing and we all though he had a motor on his 20" powerlite.
on a serious note, not to gloat, but i have a group of friends that i'm always that little bit better than them at everything. mx, bmx, dirtjumping, mtnbikes, pool, golf, videogames, baggin' fatties, nunchucks, etc. my one friend takes it personal. i think it's a competitive nature of some people are not willing to be beat. not saying i'm unable to be beat, but i am a very very competitive dude.
good topic Titan, bro
The only exceptions to the rule I've ever seen are Andrew Short and Ivan Tedesco. Both of those guys were roughly my speed as amateurs. When Andrew especially turned pro he did about what I expected. But then somehow he did what most people consider impossible, which is gain significant speed after turning pro.
It has to be true though. Think about a fighter pilot. They have to have some insanely quick reflexes. Perhaps the rest of us can train our brains to that level, but they already have it naturally.
Tell me that Travis Pastrana isn't just the most fearless, balanced kid with insane-quick reflexes of this modern age. He lacks one thing... The focus to pick one subject and dedicate himself to it.
As case in point, those fine young men riding my cousin's stolen bike on one wheel through the streets of Baltimore display an awesome sense of balance. I'd be willing to bet few of them could ride a track or even a trail as well as your average B class rider, despite being able to out-wheelie most. Pure speculation, but I'd bet.
One of the characteristics mentioned in that "old guy" video posted earlier was vision. I've always thought that the really fast guys have the ability to see and process things differently than the average joe. Don't think this has ever been studied, but I'd be interested to see about it.
H
In reference to what Peelout said, my best friend as a child was one of those guys who was just good at everything - Rugby, Cricket, Athletics, Distance Running, Swimming, Gymnastics, Target Shooting, Golf etc - and he was pretty fast on a dirtbike, too. However,one of the other guys in our crew was just a munter (granted he must've had some talent) - he would just send it and was faster at motocross. My buddy was so used to being the best at everything that this pissed him off no end. He would ride virtually everyday, but could never close the gap. In the end, he got so frustrated that he gave the sport away
To be the best, you need to have a high IQ, EQ, BQ, and MQ. When RC was a rookie, he had extremely high IQ (moto brilliance), EQ (self knowledge, personal ownership, in moment), BQ (lacked fitness compared to some of the competition), and MQ (raced within the rules and ethics of MX). It wasnt until he increased his BQ that he beat Mcgrath in SX (Aldon Baker as fitness coach). I'll give some examples:
RV: IQ (motocross brilliance off the charts), EQ (emotional intelligence off the charts), BQ (increased significatly with Aldon Baker), MQ
RD5: IQ (motocross brilliance off the charts), EQ (emotional intelligence off the charts), BQ, MQ
KW: IQ (motocross brilliance off the charts), EQ (emotional intelligence not as high as RV2, RC, RD... higher than most), BQ (not as hight as RD and RV), MQ
Lil Hany: IQ (motocross smart), EQ (emotional intelligence low.... implodes often), BQ (not as hight as RD and RV), MQ (suspect)
If I were an O'Mara Hughes Baker, I would work on increasing IQ, EQ, BQ, and MQ. I believe you'll see Hughes in the future take EQ to new heights. I am very excited about his program
This is a good thread - why some people are inherently faster is something that has always intrigued (and frustrated) me.
Pit Row
Seriously after talking with many of the top pros it seems one common trait is the ability to process information at a different speed than is considered normal. Combine that with unusual inner ear balance and you have the needed combo. Add in an aggressive attitude and you have champ potential.
At young ages the greats get locked in the zone at some point. Your on top of the world and can't do a damn thing wrong while locked in this unbreakable mental state.. These few continue to get "locked in" and are capable of shutting off everything to remain there. This includes such things as pressure, phyisical pain, problems outside the job and yes you guessed it FEAR..
All pros have been there, but the greats continue to find this special place.
Good Job Titan! Some very interesting opinions on this.
I was a pretty good baseball player growing up starting to play at 5. when I was in High school I was MVP my senior year and played above my age bracket all through little league as an All-star. I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and I was quite competitive in tournament fighting, which gave me good balance and quick reactions. I'm a very aggressive competitor by nature, so despite not racing until I was 21 I have been a competitive 30+ expert. I know my aggression serves me well in racing, but having crashed hard a few times I know that has slowed me down/ calmed me down quite a bit over the last few years. I know if I would have started earlier I would have turned Pro, but a top flight factory pro.....I never had the "talent" to reach that level. The guys at the top of this sport are the perfect storm of aggression, quick reflexes, dedication, balance, opportunity and luck.
Used to ride with a guy that spoke about like Mountain Man from Duck Dynasty....very sloooooow. As a matter of fact he did everything slow until you put him in or on something with an engine. Then it was on. The dude could haul ass in MX, enduro, road racing, speedway bikes, dirt track cars, drag cars... You name it, he could do it fast but you'd never know it by his mannerisms.
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